I would like to update my current thoughts on a few of the Rams OL'ers thats on going into the final week of the pre season. I need to revise my thinking from what I have observed:
Joe Noteboom- LT/RT/OG- This rookie continues to improve snap after snap. In the Texans gm. we saw a change up where Noteboom played mostly @ one post...LT. Up till now we have seen him play 3 post's. It could be that Kromer wanted to give the steadily improving reserve OT Darrell Williams @ RT. It was a change-up from what we had seen in the first 2 gms. Since Noteboom has thoroughly proved he is more than capable of playing four OL positions. This rookie Noteboom now has become the
most important reserve OL'er.
Aaron Neary- LG/OC/RG- He has been surprising thus far when the Rams took the field Saturday he started @ LG then in the 2nd half came out & started @ OC. Neary got in on 48 offensive snaps 71% of all offensive snaps plus played on Special Teams. No other interior OL got as much play. IMO Neary has shown excellent improvement from when we saw him start in gm #17 last season @ center. Neary made some outstanding blocks Saturday including pushing & maintaining his blocks on that great Kelley TD run..it was Neary that Kelly ran behind. Fact that Neary can play 3 post is sure to carry weight here in these last days of PS. This Eastern Washington product who played with Ebukam & Kupp has done well after his first Training Camp & Pre season with Kromer's teachings. Neary came to the Rams last yr after the regular season began.
Darrell Williams-RT/LT- Sure appears that this 4th yr product has figured it out. Dusted off the former HC Fisher OL coach instructions & has worked hard to learn the right OT post. The last two pre season gms have surprised me his play has been very solid. With OT Noteboom being able to play OG having an extra OT on the roster where Havenstein has a ankle injury & the oldest LT in the NFL is a sound move. DW has one more gm to prove himself worthy to be a solid swing OT for the opening week of the 2018 Rams ....we'll see but it sure looks good. DW has surpassed both Lucas & Demby thus far. Its hard to believe
this has happen.
I've been saying all along, this is the best overall group of offensive lineman that I can ever remember, and
Kromer has really moved them around, and most of them have showed some amazing versatility, now I don't know if that is Kromer's thing, or it's a new thing, but it reminds me of the GB Packers, and their philosophy. Whether it be Guard, Tackle, or Center, if a spot opens up, a guy steps in. OT wise, I have always seen this as either Lucas, or
D. Williams having a shot at the last spot, and hopefully, we can try to stash some of or Guard, Center types on the P.S., but based on their performance, I think they will be snatched up.
I've seen good things from
Neary, and
Eldrencamp, all preseason, and they seem a little underrated on this forum. They and the coaches deserve some credit here.
Kolone hasn't stood out for me, but that's not a bad thing, necessarily. I have a slightly higher opinion of
D. Williams than you, I think I always have. What I seem to like the most about him this year, is he appears a little lighter on his feet, and his effort stands out. He doesn't give up on a play, even if he has to dive at someone, who beat him, or wasn't his man to began with. I can't get a good read on
Lucas, because there is a chance that they might be protecting him a little, kind of like the starters, as he may be dinged up, a little. IDK. He has improved though, quite a bit from last year.
I think all of our
rookies have performed above expectations, and will make the roster.
Noteboom is obviously the standout, and as I pointed out after the 1st preseason game, he just really needs to gain a little more strength, technique, so that he can re-anchor more effectively, which is the only major flaw I see in his game.
Noteboom, looks like a first round prospect to me, and a steal. He can play this season, if we need him.
Demby needs to work on his body a little bit, but he shows some amazing promise, and
Allen has improved every game, he will be our eventual starter at Center.
I think I will stick with my initial prediction on who makes the roster, but I wouldn't be surprised, if a couple guys surprised me. Lol. It's tighter than we think.
So, for me, it's between Lucas, or Williams for that last spot.
to making the 53 player roster. But until 2018 the Rams had not invested in a drafted reserve LT. Now we did & DW has surely lost his reserve LT position to Noteboom. Kromer is now giving DW a opportunity to earn a position on this 2018 team as a reserve RIGHT OT. DW has never performed well @ RT.....until last weekend
he has hurt my eyes with. The more I saw of him play the more I said
